Virginia motorcycle blind spot accident attorneys

Does driver negligence often cause motorcycle wrecks?

A motorcycle is a great vehicle for touring Virginia’s beautiful landscapes - from the Appalachian Mountains in the west to the picturesque coastline in the east. Motorbikes are also a convenient way to commute in our crowded cities like Richmond and Norfolk.

The downside of motorcycling? It’s not the motorcycle - it’s the other drivers on the road.

Anyone who’s ever ridden a motorcycle knows that, while riding, you have to stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings at all times. That’s because an accident, even one that would be a mere fender-bender in a car, can be fatal on a motorcycle. On the other hand, drivers of cars are often less vigilant and more distracted because they’re encased in steel and protected by seat belts, airbags, and other safety devices.

Our law firm tries to prevent accidents from happening. If we could stop all motorcycle crashes entirely, we would. That’s why we want to share the following safety information with you. We wouldn’t mind going out of business if it meant that people were staying safer and healthier. But until that perfect world happens in Eastern Virginia, we’re here to help our neighbors who are injured through no fault of their own.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, there’s a good chance that the cause of that accident was the inattention of another vehicle’s driver. If that’s the case, you are eligible for compensation for the injuries and losses you suffered.

To find out more about your legal rights and options, call our team at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys for a free consultation. If our firm takes your case, you pay no upfront fees or out-of-pocket expenses. You have nothing to lose, so call our Virginia motorcycle accident lawyers today, at (804) 413-6777.

Why are blind spots so dangerous to motorcyclists?

Motorcycle riders have no "blind spots." But unfortunately, other vehicles have multiple blind spots, particularly tractor-trailers.

A blind spot can be defined as an area where another driver cannot see you - either directly or in mirrors. How many blind spots a vehicle has (and where they are) depend on the width, length, and model of the vehicle. Blind spots can also change when a vehicle makes a turn, changes lanes, or backs up.

Veteran motorcycle riders have a saying: "in the mirrors," or "staying in the mirrors." This means that when riding near another vehicle, the motorcyclist always wants to keep himself visible in the other driver’s mirrors. While blind spots are a danger to all vehicles on the road, they are particularly hazardous for bikers because motorcycles are so much smaller, making them even harder to see. No matter how experienced a rider you are, you have to constantly be aware of blind spots and keep yourself “in the mirrors.”

You should avoid death spots too

Bikers also need to avoid what are called "death spots." A death spot is anywhere directly alongside another vehicle. This position is deadly because, if the other vehicles turns, swerves, drifts, or changes lanes, the rider gets hit because he or she has nowhere to go. Motorcyclists have to constantly keep blind spots in mind, but so do drivers of other vehicles. It’s not enough for them to simply check their mirrors before turning or changing lanes. They also need to look over their shoulders to make sure there is no one in their blind spots.

The main cause of motorcycle accidents? Driver negligence

The No. 1 threat to motorcyclists’ safety is the carelessness, distraction, and overall negligence of the drivers they share the road with. Drivers of cars and trucks have a duty to be aware of motorcycles and grant them the right of way. Just because motorbikes are smaller than other vehicles doesn’t mean they have any less right to use Virginia’s roads.

Some of the ways a driver can carelessly endanger a motorcyclist include:

Not allowing the motorcycle adequate space.

Tailgating (motorcycles can stop faster than cars or trucks, so drivers need to allow them extra space when following them).

Not checking mirrors and looking over their shoulders before changing lanes or making a turn (41 percent of motorcycle crashes in 2015 were caused by a truck or car turning left into the path of a motorcycle, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).

Not obeying traffic signs, traffic signals, and rules of the road in general.

Turning in front of an approaching motorcycle.

If you love riding a motorcycle, just be extra-cautious for "those" drivers. If the conditions don’t feel right or safe to you, pull over and wait in a safe spot until traffic is friendlier. Don’t let the fear of negligent drivers stop you altogether! That said, you need to know what to do if you are injured in an accident.

If you have suffered injury in a vehicle–motorcycle crash, call us

Motorcycle accidents often involve serious injuries. With those injuries come medical bills, property damage, and other costs, such as lost wages from missed work. These costs may be more than your insurance can cover. That’s why you need the help of a skilled motorcycle accident attorney.

If GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys takes your case, we will work to get you payment for your losses and for other damages like pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement, emotional trauma, loss of joy of life, and more. Our firm has a "no fee guarantee." Our clients pay no fee unless we recover money for you through a settlement or at trial. We will pursue your claim with diligence and compassion throughout. Call us for a free case evaluation today at (804) 413-6777.

Prevention, empathy, and diligence are hallmarks of everything we do at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys. Our community can see these ideals lived out in our work to prevent personal injuries from happening.